Anticipating September

One of baseball's loopiest and most charming rules is the September call-up, where, in the middle of pennant races, roster rules change.  The moral rigor imposed by hard roster choices--do we carry 12 pitchers or 13, do we need a third catcher or a sixth infielder. or another LOOGY--vanishes into laissez-faire profligacy.  It's sort of a fun tradition.

It also has a dark side.  You think games managed by Tony LaRussa are unbearable when he has 12 pitchers to deal with?  Give him 18 and watch the paint dry.  Plus the September call-up rule suggests the contempt in which MLB holds their minor leagues.  Hey, AAA fans, you've been supporting your team, and they made the playoffs!  Good for you!  Now we're taking your best three hitters in case we need them to pinch-hit once a week.  

Still, September is a time when a few guys get to sneak into the Baseball Encyclopedia who otherwise wouldn't--I'm looking at you, Conor Gillaspie!  So there's that.  So who will be the Giants' call-ups?  What roster moves will we make?  Which should we make? 

Only players on the 40-man can be called up.  So looking at our 40-man, some obvious moves suggest themselves.  We need infield depth, so I expect to see Burriss and Rohlinger up, maybe also Downs, and of course Renteria, when he's healthy. The FO may wait until September to bring back Runzler, and we also don't have anyone who could make an emergency start if needed, so probably either Pucetas or Sosa, maybe both.  I think we'll see Joaquin too, and Ramirez. 

Brandon Belt?  He's not on the 40-man, but he's also our best prospect, and he's generated a lot of noise from organization-puppet Chris Haft.  Who would they DFA?  The obvious choice seems to me Alex Hinshaw.  His job on the 40-man is probably best described as LOOGY insurance.  He's the guy you call up if Runzler or Affeldt get hurt.  Except they did get hurt, and rather than bring up the guy whose entire job description . . . sorry, it's too painful. He's been awful.. He's issued an astounding 32 walks in 47 innings.  He's a lefty with a live fastball and no command.  He's a replacement-level player who wasn't good enough to be considered when we needed a replacement player with his exact skill set.  No thanks. 

Who else?  There are some intriguing names on the 40-man.  Thomas Neal.  Francisco Peguero.  Brett Pill.   But what we really need, seems to me, is a third catcher.  We only have two on the 40-man.  What do you think of DFAing Velez and bringing up Jackson Williams?  He's supposed to be brilliant defensively, and isn't hitting much worse than Steve Holm.  Or, of course, we could also just add Holm.  So what think you?